Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense stars, present participle starring, past tense, past participle starred
1. countable noun
A star is a large ball of burning gas in space. Stars appear to us as small points of light in the sky on clear nights.
The night was dark, the stars hidden behind cloud.
2. See also morning star, shooting star
3. countable noun
You can refer to a shape or an object as a star when it has four, five, or more points sticking out of it in a regular pattern.
Children at school receive coloured stars for work well done.
4. countable noun
You can say how many stars something such as a hotel or restaurant has as a way of talking about its quality, which is often indicated by a number of star-shaped symbols. Themore stars something has, the better it is.
...five star hotels.
5. countable noun
Famous actors, musicians, and sports players are often referred to as stars.
...Gemma, 41, star of the TV series Pennies From Heaven.
By now Murphy is Hollywood's top male comedy star.
Some football stars are very wealthy.
Synonyms: celebrity, big name, celeb [informal], megastar [informal] More Synonyms of star
6. verb
If an actor or actress stars in a play or film, he or she has one of the most important parts in it.
I starred in a pantomime called Puss in Boots. [VERB + in]
He's starred in dozens of films. [VERBin noun]
Synonyms: play the lead, appear, feature, perform More Synonyms of star
7. verb
If a play or film stars a famous actor or actress, he or she has one of the most important parts in it.
The comedy starred the young actor as an Irish policeman. [VERB noun]
...a Hollywood film, The Secret of Santa Vittoria, directed by Stanley Kramer andstarring Anthony Quinn. [VERB noun]
8. plural noun
Predictions about people's lives which are based on astrology and appear regularly in a newspaper or magazine are sometimes referred to as thestars.
There was nothing in my stars to say I'd have travel problems!
9.
See to thank your lucky stars
More Synonyms of star
star in British English
(stɑː)
noun
1.
any of a vast number of celestial objects that are visible in the clear night sky as points of light
2.
a.
a hot gaseous mass, such as the sun, that radiates energy, esp as light and infrared radiation, usually derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior, and in some cases as ultraviolet, radio waves, and X-rays. The surface temperature can range from about 2100 to 40 000°C
See also Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, giant star, white dwarf, neutron star, black hole
b.
(as modifier)
a star catalogue
▶ Related adjectives: astral, sidereal, stellar
3. astrology
a.
a celestial body, esp a planet, supposed to influence events, personalities, etc
b. (plural) another name for horoscope (sense 1)
4.
an emblem shaped like a conventionalized star, usually with five or more points, often used as a symbol of rank, an award, etc
5.
a small white blaze on the forehead of an animal, esp a horse
6. Also called: star facet
any of the eight triangular facets cut in the crown of a brilliant
7.
a.
a distinguished or glamorous celebrity, often from the entertainment world
b.
(as modifier)
star quality
8. another word for asterisk
9. (often capital)
a type of keelboat, designed to be crewed by two people
10. prison slang
a convict serving a first prison sentence
11. see stars
verbWord forms: stars, starring or starred
12. (transitive)
to mark or decorate with a star or stars
13.
to feature or be featured as a star
'Greed' starred Erich von Stroheim
Olivier starred in 'Hamlet'
Derived forms
starless (ˈstarless)
adjective
starlike (ˈstarˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English steorra; related to Old Frisian stēra, Old Norse stjarna, German Stern, Latin stella
star in American English
(stɑr)
noun
1.
any of the luminous celestial objects seen as points of light in the sky; esp., any self-luminous celestial body having continuous nuclear reactions which send heat, light, etc. in all directions
2.
a conventionalized flat figure having (usually five or six) symmetrical projecting points, regarded as a representation of a star of the sky
3.
any mark, shape, emblem, or the like resembling such a figure, often used as an award,symbol of rank or authority, etc.
4.
asterisk
5.
a. Astrology
a zodiacal constellation or a planet regarded as influencing human fate or destiny
b. [often pl.]
fate; destiny; fortune
6.
a person who excels or performs brilliantly in a given activity, esp. a sport
7.
a prominent actor or actress, esp. one playing a leading role and having special billing in a given production
verb transitiveWord forms: starred or ˈstarring
8.
to mark or set with stars as a decoration
9.
to mark with one or more stars as a grade of quality
10.
to mark with an asterisk
11.
to present or feature (an actor or actress) in a leading role
verb intransitive
12.
to perform brilliantly; excel
13.
to perform as a star, as in a theatrical production
adjective
14.
having exceptional skill and talent; outstanding; excelling others; leading
a star performer
15.
of a star or stars
Idioms:
see stars
thank one's (lucky) stars
Word origin
ME sterre < OE steorra, akin to Goth stairnō, Cornish sterenn < IE base *ster-, a star > Gr astēr, L stella (dim. < *ster-ela), star
Examples of 'star' in a sentence
star
Losing teams and declining organisations often have stars but the stars are out for themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Certain stars were easily bigger than their clubs.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The answer is it would have won an extra star.
The Sun (2014)
The stars were moaning about their props with just two hours to go.
The Sun (2009)
The reality star has admitted inhaling two of them.
The Sun (2013)
The main reason for coming racing is to see the stars.
The Sun (2010)
Will the five stars of the flag be added to the team logo?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Britain was not invited but should thank its lucky stars.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We slept in a tent and stayed up chatting under the stars all night.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They can vote again along with judges to boot off one star.
The Sun (2008)
The soap star appears to have left her skirt at home after going on a night out.
The Sun (2009)
It also highlighted his ability to lure stars more often seen on red carpets into the wilderness.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This is how top companies pay their star sales people.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Experts blame the growth in swearing on casual bad language used by role models like actors and pop stars.
The Sun (2012)
Want to play like a star?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She has since become a stage, film and recording star.
The Sun (2011)
Get stuck in, close the big stars down and make life difficult.
The Sun (2006)
Some stars won't play with a pulled eyelash but he's the very opposite.
The Sun (2011)
The comic went to school with the Twilight star and regularly mocked the heart-throb during his early days as a stand up comic.
The Sun (2015)
Word lists with
star
affection, Horse markings
In other languages
star
British English: star /stɑː/ NOUN
in the sky A star is a large ball of burning gas in space. Stars look like small points of light in the sky.
Stars lit the sky.
American English: star sky
Arabic: نـَجْم
Brazilian Portuguese: estrela
Chinese: 星
Croatian: zvijezda
Czech: hvězda na nebi
Danish: stjerne
Dutch: ster hemel
European Spanish: estrella cielo
Finnish: tähti
French: étoile
German: Stern
Greek: άστρο
Italian: stella
Japanese: 星 sky
Korean: 별
Norwegian: stjerne
Polish: gwiazda niebo
European Portuguese: estrela
Romanian: stea
Russian: звезда
Latin American Spanish: estrella
Swedish: stjärna
Thai: ดาว
Turkish: yıldız gök
Ukrainian: зірка
Vietnamese: ngôi sao
British English: star /stɑː/ NOUN
celebrity A star is somebody who is famous for doing something, for example acting or singing.
He's one of the stars of a TV show.
American English: star person
Arabic: نـَجْم
Brazilian Portuguese: astro de cinema
Chinese: 明星
Croatian: zvijezda
Czech: hvězda člověk
Danish: stjerne
Dutch: ster persoon
European Spanish: estrella persona
Finnish: tähti
French: star
German: Star
Greek: σταρ
Italian: divo
Japanese: スター person
Korean: 인기 배우
Norwegian: stjerne
Polish: gwiazda osoba
European Portuguese: estrela de cinema
Romanian: star
Russian: звезда
Latin American Spanish: estrella
Swedish: stjärna
Thai: คนที่มีชื่อเสียงในด้านใดด้านหนึ่ง
Turkish: yıldız kişi
Ukrainian: зірка
Vietnamese: ngôi sao
British English: star /stɑː/ VERB
If an actor or actress stars in a play or film, he or she has one of the most important parts in it.
He's starred in dozens of films.
American English: star
Arabic: يَقُومُ بِدَورِ
Brazilian Portuguese: estrelar
Chinese: 主演
Croatian: igrati glavnu ulogu
Czech: učinkovat v hlavní roli
Danish: være stjerne i
Dutch: hoofdrol hebben
European Spanish: protagonizar
Finnish: esiintyä tähtenä elokuvassa
French: jouer dans un film
German: die Hauptrolle spielen Film
Greek: πρωταγωνιστώ
Italian: essere il protagonista
Japanese: 主演する
Korean: 주연하다
Norwegian: spille hovedrollen
Polish: wystąpić w głównej roli
European Portuguese: representar o papel principal
Romanian: a fi distribuit ca protagonist
Russian: играть главную роль
Latin American Spanish: protagonizar
Swedish: spela huvudrollen i
Thai: เป็นดารานำแสดง
Turkish: yıldız koymak
Ukrainian: грати головні ролі
Vietnamese: đóng vai chính
British English: star /stɑː/ NOUN
shape A star is a shape that has four, five, or more points sticking out of it in a pattern.
How many stars are there on the flag?
American English: star
Arabic: نـَجْم
Brazilian Portuguese: estrela
Chinese: 星形
Croatian: zvijezda
Czech: hvězdatvar
Danish: stjerne
Dutch: ster
European Spanish: estrella
Finnish: tähti
French: étoile
German: Stern
Greek: αστέρι
Italian: stella
Japanese: 星
Korean: 별
Norwegian: stjerne
Polish: gwiazdka
European Portuguese: estrela
Romanian: stea
Russian: звезда
Latin American Spanish: estrella
Swedish: stjärna
Thai: ดาว
Turkish: yıldız
Ukrainian: зірка
Vietnamese: ngôi sao
All related terms of 'star'
F star
a white to yellow star, as Canopus , Polaris , or Procyon , having a surface temperature between 6000 and 7500 K and an absorption spectrum in which the pair of ultraviolet lines of singly ionized calcium and the Balmer series of hydrogen are of about equal strength
co-star
An actor's or actress's co-stars are the other actors or actresses who also have one of the main parts in a particular film.
all-star
An all-star cast , performance , or game is one which contains only famous or extremely good performers or players.
dark star
an invisible star known to exist only from observation of its radio, infrared , or other spectrum or of its gravitational effect, such as an invisible component of a binary or multiple star
Dog Star
→ Sirius
film star
A film star is a famous actor or actress who appears in films.
five-star
(of a hotel ) first-class , top-quality, or offering exceptional luxury
four-star
of high, or of the highest, quality
gold star
a small, gold-colored star displayed to represent a member of the U.S. armed forces killed in war
pole star
a guiding principle , rule , standard , etc
pop star
a famous singer or musician who performs pop music
rock star
a pop musician , usually a singer , who is very famous
sea star
starfish
star map
See star chart
star part
the main role , or one of the main roles
star ruby
a ruby that resembles a starlike figure in reflected light because of its crystalline structure
star sign
Your star sign is the sign of the zodiac under which you were born.
star turn
The star turn of a performance or show is the main item , or the one that is considered to be the most interesting or exciting.
Star Wars
(in the US) a proposed system of artificial satellites armed with lasers to destroy enemy missiles in space
two-star
leaded petrol that has a low octane number; inferior leaded petrol
basket-star
any of several echinoderms of the genus Gorgonocephalus , in which long slender arms radiate from a central disc: order Ophiuroidea ( brittle-stars )
battle star
a small star worn on a campaign ribbon , awarded to a member of the armed forces for participation in a particular battle or campaign
binary star
a double star system comprising two stars orbiting around their common centre of mass . A visual binary can be seen through a telescope . A spectroscopic binary can only be observed by the spectroscopic Doppler shift as each star moves towards or away from the earth
child star
a child who attains celebrity status
double star
two stars , appearing close together when viewed through a telescope ; either physically associated ( binary star) or not associated ( optical double star)
dwarf star
any luminosity class V star , such as the sun, lying in the main sequence of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
fixed star
any of the stars in the Ptolemaic system, all of which were thought to be attached to an outer crystal sphere thus explaining their apparent lack of movement
flare star
a red dwarf star in which outbursts , thought to be analogous to solar flares , occur, increasing the luminosity by several magnitudes in a few minutes
giant star
any of a class of stars , such as Capella and Arcturus , that have swelled and brightened considerably as they approach the end of their life, their energy supply having changed
guest star
a famous entertainer making an appearance in a show in which he or she is not a regular performer
media star
a person who is well-known because of frequent appearances in the mass media
movie star
A movie star is a famous actor or actress who appears in films.
North Star
→ Polaris
radio star
a celestial object, such as a supernova remnant or quasar , that is a source of radio waves
rising star
A rising star in a particular sport, art, or area of business is someone who is starting to do very well and who people think will soon be very successful.
shell star
a type of star, usually of spectral type B to F , surrounded by a gaseous shell
Silver Star
a bronze star with a small silver star at the center , awarded to a soldier who has been cited in orders for gallantry in action, when the citation does not warrant the award of a Medal of Honor or the Distinguished Service Cross
star anise
a small Chinese evergreen tree ( Illicium verum ) yielding an aromatic oil
star-apple
a West Indian sapotaceous tree, Chrysophyllum cainito , with smooth-skinned edible greenish-purple fruit
star chart
a chart or map showing the relative apparent positions of the stars, as seen from the earth, in a particular area of the sky
star facet
any of a vast number of celestial objects that are visible in the clear night sky as points of light
star fruit
→ carambola (sense 2 )
star-gazer
A star-gazer is someone who studies the stars as an astronomer or astrologer.
star-gazing
Star-gazing is the activity of studying the stars as an astronomer or astrologer.
star grass
any of various temperate and tropical plants of the amaryllidaceous genus Hypoxis , having long grasslike leaves and yellow star-shaped flowers
star point
a common junction connected to the ends of windings of a polyphase electrical device or system of devices
star prize
The star prize in a competition is the most valuable prize.
star rating
a rating indicated by stars (usually 1–5), the highest number of stars indicating the best quality, highest amount etc
star route
a mail route serviced by a private contractor
star shell
an artillery shell containing a flare or other illuminant : often containing a parachute to prolong the descent of the illuminating material
Chinese translation of 'star'
star
(stɑːʳ)
n(c)
(in sky) 星 (xīng) (颗, kē)
(= shape) 星形物 (xīngxíngwù)
(= celebrity) 明星 (míngxīng) (个(個), gè)
vt
[play, film][actor, actress]使主演 (shǐ zhǔyǎn)
⇒ The movie starred Lana Turner.莱娜·特纳担任那部电影的主角。 (Láinà Tènà dānrèn nà bù diànyǐng de zhǔjué.)
vi
to star (in)[play, film](在 ... 中)主演 ((zài ... zhōng) zhǔyǎn)
a 4-star hotel4星级(級)旅馆(館) (sì xīngjí lǚguǎn)
Derived Forms
the starsn pl (inf, = horoscope) 星象 (xīngxiàng)
All related terms of 'star'
co-star
合演者 héyǎnzhě [ 名 míng ]
pop star
明星 míngxīng [ 个(個) gè ]
film star
( esp Brit ) 影星 yǐngxīng [ 位 wèi ]
to co-star (with sb)
(与(與)某人)联(聯)袂主演 (yǔ mǒurén) liánmèi zhǔyǎn
a 4-star hotel
4星级(級)旅馆(館) sì xīngjí lǚguǎn
a star in the making
一个(個)成长(長)中的明星 yī gè chéngzhǎng zhōng de míngxīng
to star (in)
( play, film ) (在 ... 中)主演 (zài ... zhōng) zhǔyǎn
1 (noun)
Definition
a hot gaseous mass, such as the sun, that radiates energy as heat and light, or in some cases as radio waves and X-rays
The nights were pure with cold air and lit with stars.
Synonyms
heavenly body
sun
celestial body
2 (noun)
Definition
a famous person from the sports, acting, or music professions
Not all football stars are ill-behaved louts.
Synonyms
celebrity
At the age of twelve, he was already a celebrity.
big name
all the big names in rock and pop
celeb (informal)
megastar (informal)
name
draw
idol
luminary
the political opinions of such luminaries as Sartre and de Beauvoir
leading man or lady
lead
hero or heroine
principal
soloists and principals of The Scottish Ballet orchestra
main attraction
(plural noun)
There was nothing in my stars to say I'd have problems.
Synonyms
horoscope
forecast
astrological chart
(verb)
Definition
to feature (an actor or actress) or (of an actor or actress) to be featured as a star
He's starred in dozens of films.
Synonyms
play the lead
appear
She appeared in several of her own plays.
feature
She featured in a Hollywood film.
perform
(modifier)
He was the school's star pupil.
Synonyms
leading
major
principal
celebrated
brilliant
well-known
prominent
paramount
illustrious
related words
related adjectivesastralsiderealstellar
related phobiasiderophobia
subject word lists
See StarsSee Constellations
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appear
Definition
to perform
She appeared in several of her own plays.
Synonyms
perform,
play,
act,
enter,
come on,
take part,
play a part,
be exhibited,
come onstage
in the sense of big name
Definition
a famous person
all the big names in rock and pop
Synonyms
celebrity,
star,
personality,
superstar,
name,
dignitary,
luminary,
bigwig (informal),
celeb (informal),
face (informal),
big shot (informal),
personage,
megastar (informal),
lion,
V.I.P.
in the sense of feature
Definition
to have as a feature or make a feature of
She featured in a Hollywood film.
Synonyms
star,
appear,
headline,
participate,
play a part
Synonyms of 'star'
star
Explore 'star' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of luminary
Definition
an expert in a particular subject
the political opinions of such luminaries as Sartre and de Beauvoir
Synonyms
celebrity,
star,
expert,
somebody,
lion,
worthy,
notable,
big name,
dignitary,
leading light,
celeb (informal),
personage,
megastar (informal),
fundi (South Africa),
V.I.P.
in the sense of principal
Definition
the leading actor in a play
soloists and principals of The Scottish Ballet orchestra